Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-12-03
The Captain S Story.

ever sailor-man clapped eye to-
said bluff Captain Martin, as, seated
in his snug cabin, | took from rack
a big, old fashioned ships spy-glass,
or telescope bearing a silver plate
with inscription.
1.-THE English government present
ed my old father, Captain OF the
clipper ship Martha Washington,
with that glass for saving British
crew at the risk of his own vessel.
It's the most precious thing / have
on earth, except my wife and my
ship-and it saved me from dying
by tho rope on the gallows." The
captain took the instrument from
me and patted it lovingly as he
nursed it in his arms.
"Give us the yarn, Capt.
"Well, don't mind-maybe you
can make story out of it."
81 was board ship with father till
he died-mother had gone three
wears before. | had no relations
and few friends. / thought I'd try
a land cruise, SO l packs this old
glass with my little dunnage and
hoofs off for the Yankee States.
"Up near the Canada line 1 got
work with farmer. | knew moth
ing Of farming, but was tall, stout,
strong and willing, just twenty one
and hearty as live oak. l was on
that farm at Round Lake for over
a year, and folks got to like me very
well. There was one l liked more
than well. that was Jean, the adopt
ed daughter of an old Frenchman
named Bazine, whowith his wife and
nephew lived in very lonely old
house down on the lake shore. Jean
was as trim built little craft as ev-
er carried tidy rigging. made
chase after first sight of her, and
sometimes she showed signs of sur
render. She was lightning for
work, and old Monseer and Missis
Bazine didn't encourage one that
they thought might take her away.
Besides, they wanted their sullen,
round shouldered, bad-eyed nephew
Peter Carter, to marry her.
"No one knew anything of old Ba-
zine, except that he came there sew
eral years before. He would answer
no questions. He must have been
rich once, for he had a great side
board covered with heavy, old-fash'
ed silver plate. But he was miserly
now and cranky in his ways of farm
ing and everything else. The peo-
pie were sure he had lots of money
hidden in the house, for he often
paid for goods in foreign gold coin.
''Jean and / got to meeting in the
early evenings, and | was certain
she cared for me. But one night
after all day in the harvest field-we
used to have whisksy then--what
drank went to my head-my legs
were steady but 1 felt the liquor and
| showed it. The stubborn in me
walked up and | walked right up to
old Bazine's house and asked to see
Jean.
"The old man raved and tore and
gave me a good cursing. l paid
him back in the same.
Finally Jean put in an appear
ance, and showed me she was mad
at me for coming to the house, and
also for being half, or more drunk
What she said riled me, and l turn
ed..on my heel and left.
II felt pretty bad that night,
was mad still, yet ashamed of my
kelf. l was up at first crack of dawn
Ind as soon as it was sun-up, / goes
Fith this spy-glass to a rock from
Fhich | could see Bazine's house
nd all its surroundings, about I
nile away. This was the only poin
about from which such sight coul(
be obtained. l had discovered it b,
accident, and / used to lay Their
in the early evening and watc